Blog

Deb Gleeson - 10 September 2017

Research has shown that Gratitude builds happiness

The evidence is in, Gratitude increases happiness!

Research has continually shown that the practice of Gratitude increases happiness.

Notice that it is PRACTICE of GRATITUDE that increases happiness.

That means that there is action needed.

Do you want to be happier?

Follow these simple steps to increase your happiness.

Start a Gratitude Journal

1. Don't just go through the motion of this. Make a conscious decision to become happier and put your effort into it.
2. Record 5 things that you are grateful for every week.
3. You don't need to write a lot but make what you write detailed about what you are really grateful about of for.
4. Get personal when you are grateful for someone else. What is it that their presence in your life gifts to you. Think about what your life would be like without them to give you hints.
5. Savour surprises, things that happens spontaneously and unexpectedly.
6. Look over your sentences and see the things in your life as gifts. Relish and Savor the things in your journal.

Writing things down helps you to slow down and notice the things in your life. It helps you organise your thoughts and put them into context. As you look at your journal you can see the meaning of people and events in your life.

An entry in my journal from 25 years ago is:

'Thankyou, to the two women standing in line to go into a university tutorial. I did not know you and you did not know me but I had noticed you both and your small kindnesses to others around you. You were talking about a thing called Reiki and how it had helped you in your lives. I had never heard of Reiki but I felt the power of the word echo through my sick body as you said it. Later a friend asked me if I would be interested in doing a Reiki course. That course and the subsequent gifts that flooded into my life have allowed me to heal. Thankyou, both of you, you will always remain in my heart.'

I think of these women often with gratitude. It does not matter that I cannot physically tell them of my gratitude. That gratitude resonates through me and with many other gratitudes builds on my happiness.

Give it a go. Build your ability to be Grateful and your happiness.

Remember, Mental Health is everyone's business.